Use of an open-access gastroscopy service by a general practice: findings and subsequent specialist referral rate.

An analysis of 102 open-access gastroscopy requests from one general practice over 38 months showed that the detection rate of abnormalities was 58%. Even though no predetermined investigation criteria were used these results compare favourably with gastroscopy findings generally and are superior to the detection rate of lesions using barium meals. Only 12% of the patients who underwent gastroscopy required subsequent referral to a consultant. This represents a major benefit, hitherto undocumented, of an open-access gastroscopy service. Considerations of accuracy, safety and cost effectiveness coupled with the availability of efficacious drugs appear to favour the case for open-access gastroscopy for general practitioners.

Discrepancies in the availability of open access services: comparison between the Northern and Oxford regions.

General practitioners have long been aware of variations in the range of open access services available to them.This study compares the availability of 22 open access services in the Northern and Oxford regions and examines possible reasons for variations. From data collected from general practitioners and community managers two striking patterns emerge. First, there is a difference between the regions with wider availability in the Oxford region. Secondly, there are differences in the range of services available between health authorities, sometimes neighbouring, within the same region, although this is less marked in Oxford.These discrepancies probably reflect the situation nationally and it would appear questionable whether there is any policy coordination at regional or national level to ensure an equitable distribution of open access services.

Organising unrestricted open access gastroscopy in South Tees.

Increasing demand for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy has forced many clinicians to reconsider the policy of seeing all patients in a specialist clinic before gastroscopy. The following are considered essential in setting up an open access gastroscopy service. (1) Assessment of the need by examination of waiting times for the outpatient clinic and the proportion of patients requiring upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, and consultation with colleagues in general practice. During the first 2 years of the service the average waiting time for a medical gastrointestinal outpatient appointment has fallen from over 120 days to 37 days in this area. (2) An adequately staffed and equipped gastrointestinal unit with well motivated nurses (the workload will increase) and sufficient clinical support to allocate patients to the next available gastroscopy list is vital. A safe mechanism for relaying information back to the GP (including histology reports) is essential otherwise medicolegal problems could arise. Open access gastroscopy now accounts for 29% of the total endoscopy workload in South Tees. (3) Close cooperation between medical and surgical gastroenterologists must be achieved to ensure a uniform approach to the provision of this service and equal distribution of the endoscopy workload. This will require close examination of the potential numbers and may necessitate appointment of a clinical assistant or additional consultant. Clinical assistants perform just over 50% of the open access gastroscopies in South Tees and the waiting time has been kept short (average 17 days). (4) A comprehensive request form with guidelines for GPs and a specific box identifying whether the GP requires a report and brief advice only or follow up at the discretion of the endoscopist (often a clinical assistant) is required. (5) Management must be involved in identifying adequate resources. (6) Methods of monitoring requests and outcome measures to ensure effective audit must be established.